System and method for increasing the efficiency for a solid oxide fuel cell system

ABSTRACT

System and method for increasing efficiency of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system by recapturing water via a condensate extraction system that extracts water from a hot cathode exhaust flow of the SOFC stack. Further, the SOFC system can include a radiant heater which has a fuel inlet, an air intake, and an exhaust outlet independent and separate from the power generating components in the SOFC system. The radiant heater can bring the SOFC stack up to operating temperature quickly and/or maintain near operational mode temperatures of the SOFC stack during a hibernation mode.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to increasing the efficiency of solid oxide fuelcell (SOFC) system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Under normal operation, a typical SOFC system maintains a systemoperating temperature of approximately 700° C. For the high temperaturefuel cell system to become operational, the system typically requiressignificant startup time ranging anywhere between 1 to 4 hours to reachthe operating temperature from near ambient environmental conditions.

Generally, in a portable SOFC system, a stack (or hot box) is heated upfrom the environment using the following two methods. One method burnsfuel in a combustor and uses the exhaust from the combustor as a heatsource for heating an incoming cold cathode air. Then, the heatedcathode air is used to heat up the stack. Another method requires aseparate combustor or an electric heater in the stack. The method usesthe hot exhaust from the combustor to heat up the stack by convectionwith the external stack surface.

Further, conventional SOFC system generally uses a reformer to generateusable fuel from a hydrocarbon based (HC) feed stock fuel. The reformercan be operated as an Auto Thermal Reactor (ATR) or a steam reformer,both of which require a source of water for proper operation. A watersource independent system is generally required for a portable or remotepower system, especially for RV or remote site telecom gensets. In thewater source independent system, water can be acquired by condensingwater vapors from the exhaust anode fuel of the SOFC stack. At the SOFCstack, an electrochemical conversion process occurs which produceselectricity directly from oxidizing the fuel. SOFC stack has a solidoxide or ceramic, electrolyte which requires high operating temperaturewhich results in longer start-up times and mechanical and chemicalcompatibility issues.

A conventional method for condensing water vapor is to use ambient airwith a heat exchanger to cool down the anode exhaust gas and thenextract liquid water from that anode exhaust. This method is limited tomoderate ambient temperatures, which tend to limit its usefulness inhigh environmental temperature conditions (e.g., summer).

Conventional methods for heating up a fuel cell stack in a SOFC systemfrom the environment typically have low efficiencies. For example, usingthe exhaust from the combustor as the heat source for heating up theincoming cold cathode air, a substantial portion of the heat from theexhaust is directly released to environment and not utilized for heatingthe fuel cell stack. Conventional methods can also suffer from highparasitic loss of power, which can increase the fuel burn rate of thecombustor.

In portable SOFC systems, conventional methods for heating up the stackcan present a challenge for a battery bank capacity because portableSOFC systems are generally operated without an external power source.Additionally, high condensation rates are required to supply the systemneeds and achieve a water balance for increasing the efficiency of theSOFC system. The increased level of condensate production cannot beachieved by conventional methods described above at high ambient airtemperatures. Thus, there can be a risk of running out of water inconventional SOFC systems absent an external water supply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments disclosed herein increase the efficiency of SOFC system byrecapturing water via a condensate extraction system that extracts waterfrom a hot cathode exhaust flow of the SOFC stack. Further, the SOFCsystem can include a radiant heater which has a fuel inlet, an airintake, and an exhaust outlet independent and separate from the powergenerating components in the SOFC system. The radiant heater can bringthe SOFC stack up to operating temperature quickly and/or maintain nearoperational mode temperatures of the SOFC stack during a hibernationmode.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to achieving the water balancefor increasing efficiency of SOFC systems. Embodiments can include acondensate extraction system that cools the hot cathode exhaust flow(about 400° C. typically) using an intake of ambient air through a heatexchanger to extract water as a condensate. The remaining exhaust isthen rejoined to the cathode exhaust flow entering the makeup burner.The heat from the heat exchanger is also used to flash the watercondensate back to vapor in the incoming air stream, which is thenrouted into the ATR reformer for use. The cooler of an embodiment isplaced in the cathode exhaust stream exiting the heat exchanger tofurther cool the exhaust and condense water out of the exhaust stream.

In other embodiments, to limit the power draw of the cooler, thetemperature of the exhaust stream exiting the heat exchanger ismonitored and the cooling is controlled and/or regulated to coolsufficiently enough for condensing the water vapor out. In anotherembodiment where an absorption chiller is included and used, heat fromthe main exhaust is used to drive the chilling cycle and cools theexhaust exiting the heat exchanger.

An embodiment of a SOFC system for heating a solid oxide fuel cellcomprises a hot box containing a fuel cell; a reformer which provides areformed fuel to the fuel cell; and a condensate chiller mechanism,wherein the condensate chiller mechanism receives anode exhaust from thefuel cell and condenses liquid water from the anode exhaust, vaporizesthe liquid water to water vapor, and directs the water vapor to thereformer to increase the amount of water vapor received by the reformerfor producing the reformed fuel. In another embodiment the condensatechiller mechanism comprises a Peltier cooler for separating the liquidwater from the anode exhaust. In another embodiment, the condensatechiller mechanism comprises a phase change cooler for separating theliquid water from the anode exhaust.

An embodiment of the system further comprises a fuel-based radiantheater, wherein the fuel-based radiant heater for heating the fuel cell,wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directs radiation to the fuel cellto bring the fuel cell to operating temperature at startup and/ormaintain a temperature of the fuel cell to near operating temperatureduring hibernation mode. In an embodiment of the system, the fuel-basedradiant heater is a diesel fuel-based radiant heater. In anotherembodiment of the system, the fuel-based radiant heater is a directedfuel-based radiant heater.

An embodiment of the system further comprises a fuel inlet forgenerating electricity from the fuel cell, wherein the fuel-basedradiant heater has a radiant heater fuel inlet that is independent andseparate from the fuel inlet. Another embodiment of the system furthercomprises an exhaust outlet for generating electricity from the fuelcell, wherein the fuel-based radiant heater has a radiant heater exhaustoutlet that is independent and separate from the exhaust outlet. Inanother embodiment of the system, the radiant heater exhaust outlet isdirected to provide heat to the fuel cell.

An embodiment of the system for heating a solid oxide fuel cellcomprises a hot box containing a fuel cell, and a fuel-based radiantheater, wherein the fuel-based radiant heater for heating the fuel cell,wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directs radiation to the fuel cellto bring the fuel cell to operating temperature at startup and/ormaintain a temperature of the fuel cell to near operating temperatureduring hibernation mode.

An embodiment of a method for increasing an efficiency of a SOFC systemcomprises the steps of directing an anode exhaust from a fuel cell to acondensate chiller; extracting water vapor from the anode exhaust anddirecting the water vapor to an air intake of a reformer for producing areformed fuel with an increased water balance; producing the reformedfuel with the increased water balance; and supplying the reformed fuelwith the increased water balance to the SOFC fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step ofgenerating radiation by supplying a fuel to a fuel-based radiant heater,wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directs the radiation to the fuelcell to bring the fuel cell to operating temperature at startup and/ormaintain a temperature of the fuel cell to near operating temperatureduring hibernation mode.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step of bringingthe fuel cell to operating temperature at startup by generatingradiation from a fuel-based radiant heater, wherein the fuel-basedradiant heater directs the radiation to the fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step ofmaintaining a temperature of the fuel cell at near operating temperatureof the fuel cell in hibernation mode by generating radiation from afuel-based radiant heater, wherein the fuel-based radiant heatergenerates the radiation and directs the radiation to the fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step ofmaintaining a temperature of the fuel cell at near operating temperatureof the fuel cell in hibernation mode by generating radiation from afuel-based radiant heater, wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directsthe radiation to the fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step of bringingthe fuel cell to operating temperature at startup by generatingradiation from a fuel-based radiant heater, and directing the radiationto the fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step ofmaintaining a temperature of the fuel cell at near operating temperatureof the fuel cell in hibernation mode by directing heat from radiantheater exhaust from a fuel-based radiant heater to the fuel cell.

Another embodiment of the method further comprises the step of bringingthe fuel cell to operating temperature at startup by directing heat fromradiant heater exhaust from a fuel-based radiant heater to the fuelcell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system including a radiantheater according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system including a radiantheater according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system including a condensatechiller according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure may be further understood with reference to thefollowing description and the appended drawings, wherein like elementsare referred to with the same reference numerals. A system, a method,and a device disclosed herein are directed towards increasing efficiencyof a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system by recapturing water via acondensate extraction system that extracts water from a hot cathodeexhaust flow of the SOFC stack. Further, the SOFC system can include aradiant heater which has a fuel inlet, an air intake, and an exhaustoutlet independent and separate from the power generating components inthe SOFC system. The radiant heater can bring the SOFC stack up tooperating temperature quickly and/or maintain near operational modetemperatures of the SOFC stack during a hibernation mode.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system 100 according to anembodiment of the invention. The SOFC system 100 includes an air sealedhot box 101. Inside the hot box 101, the SOFC system 100 contains areformer 102 which receives anode air 103 and a fuel 104, and provides asupply of reformed fuel 105 (e.g., H₂ and CO) to the anode side of theSOFC stack 106. The reformer 102 can be an ATR reformer or a steamreformer, both of which require a source of water for proper operation.The anode air 103 can be at an environmental temperature, such as, butnot limited to, around 20° C. In one embodiment, the reformed fuel 105from the reformer 102 can be at the environmental temperature, such as,but not limited to, around 20° C. The SOFC stack 106 contained insidethe hot box 101 receives the supply of the reformed fuel 105.

In the meantime a recuperator 108 contained inside the hot box 101receives a cathode air 109 for the cathode side of the SOFC stack 106.Generally, the cathode air 109 received by the recuperator 108 can be atthe environmental temperature, such as for example, around 20° C. Therecuperator 108 heats the received cathode air 109 with hot exhaust 110from a makeup combustor 111 (also known as unused fuel combustor). Forexample, the hot exhaust 110 from the makeup combustor 111 can be 850°C., and after the cathode air 109 is heated to hot cathode airtemperature of about 700° C., the exhaust 112 can be directed out fromthe recuperator 108 at about 200° C. The hot cathode air 114 is directedfrom the recuperator 108 to the cathode side of the SOFC stack 106. Fromthe SOFC stack 106, the cathode exhaust 116 (which can be, for example,at around 400° C.) and the anode exhaust 117 (which can be, for example,at around 400° C.) are directed to the makeup combustor 111, to whichmakeup fuel 118 can be supplied if needed to burn the unused fuel. Thehot exhaust 110 from the makeup combustor 111 is directed to heat theincoming cathode air 109 as described above.

The system 100 includes a radiant heater 119 which radiates heatdirected towards components contained in the hot box 101. For example,the heat can be provided as radiation, such as infrared radiation. Anembodiment of the radiant heater 119 is a fuel-based radiant heater,which uses carbon-based fuel and burns the fuel in order to generateradiant heat. Examples of the carbon-based fuel include, but are notlimited to, diesel fuel, gasoline, methanol, ethanol, natural gas,propane, methane, landfill gas, digester gas, or reformate/syngas fromthe fuel cell's reformer system 102. Accordingly, an embodiment of theradiant heater 119 is a diesel-based or other carbon-based fuel radiantheater. In an embodiment, the fuel-based radiant heater does not requirea battery to generate heat. It is noted that the use of reformate/syngasfrom the reformer 102 as fuel for the radiant heater 119 is advantageousin that it allows the reformer 102 to be maintained in an active state,ready to supply reformed fuel to the fuel cell system 100 at start up orupon exiting from a hibernation state. The radiant heater 119 includes afuel inlet 120 that can be independent and separate from the othercomponents in the system 100. The radiant heater 119 includes an airintake 122 that can be independent and separate from the othercomponents in the system 100. The radiant heater 119 includes an exhaustoutlet 124 which directs the exhaust from the radiant heater 119 out ofthe hot box 101. The radiant heater 119 can be used during start-up,heat maintenance, or when system is sealed from the atmosphere and inhibernation mode. The radiant heater 119 allows the hot box 111 to besealed to the external environment and thermal energy can be transferredby radiation. The heating efficiency can be much higher thanconventional SOFC systems because an amount of heat that is exchangedbetween the SOFC stack 106 and the environment can be significantlyreduced due to the directed heating of the SOFC stack 106 by the radiantheater in the closed and sealed hot box 111. Further, because the hotbox 111 is sealed from the environment, almost all of the heat from theradiant heater 119 can be absorbed by the SOFC stack 106. For example,the radiant heater 119 can direct radiation via line-of-sight to theSOFC stack 106 to heat the SOFC stack 106. The radiant heater 119 canalso raise the general ambient temperature inside the hot box 101. Theradiant heater 119 can also direct radiation to heat specific componentsinside the hot box 101 to increase the overall efficiency of the system100 during start-up, hibernation, or even during operation.

Further, the system 100 can lower the parasitic power requirementsbecause little or no air flow is required inside the hot box 101 of thesystem 100. Further, because SOFC stack 106 does not produce electricityuntil its operating temperature is reached, the radiant heater 119 canalso be used as a heat source to either bring the temperature of thesystem 100 up to near operating temperature when the system 100 isstarting up, and/or keep the temperature of the system 100 at nearoperating temperature in a stand-by hibernation mode (i.e., notproducing electrical power from the SOFC stack 106). The raising and/ormaintaining the temperature of the system 100 with the radiant heater119 can be performed while not consuming much fuel (e.g., diesel-basedradiant heater can be very efficient). Further, fuel-based radiantheater 119 does not require a draw from a battery bank. A low energystandby mode is particularly important to limit the number of thermalcycles the system 100 must go through. Thus, the system 100 can increasethe longevity of operation time, and/or allow the system 100 to be ableto produce power quickly on demand from standby mode as compared to thegenerally used method and/or system. Further, a radiant heater 119 isadvantageous over an alternative system of starting up or maintainingoperating temperature using a less efficient convection burner. Furtherstill, using the radiant heater 119 is advantageous over an alternativesystem of maintaining the operation of the SOFC stack so that powerproduction can be performed quickly on demand, because keeping the SOFCstack in operation even when power from it is not needed is veryinefficient and can potentially harm or “poison” the SOFC stack media bydrawing in unbalanced flows of fuel and oxygen, or by having incompletecombustion products build up. Drawing unbalanced flow of fuel is not anissue for the inactive SOFC system 100 with the sealed hot box 111 andthe radiant heater 119 contained in the hot box 111. Further, by usingan infrared radiant heater 119, an additional advantage can be achieved.The infrared radiant heater 119 can be a directional heater. Thus,infrared heat can be directed and/or focused to one or more of thecomponents (or particular portions of the one or more of thecomponents). Directing and/or focusing the infrared heat can, forexample, increase the overall efficiency of the system 100. For example,using directed infrared radiant heater 119 to heat the SOFC stack 106,the reformer 102, or both, the directed infrared radiant heater 119 canbring up the temperature of the SOFC stack 106, the reformer 102, orboth to operating temperature very quickly and/or maintain thetemperature of the SOFC stack 106, the reformer 102, or both at nearoperating temperature. Where the directed infrared radiant heater 119is, for example, diesel-based, such directed infrared radiant heater 119can perform the above functions very efficiently due to the efficientburning of the diesel fuel. Further, the directed radiant heater 119 canreduce thermal stress on other components of the system 100 by focusingthe heat to only the component(s) in the hot box 111 that require theheating.

Further, the radiant heat from the infrared radiant heater 119 can heatthe cathode exhaust 116 and/or the anode exhaust 117. Thus, the makeupcombustor 111 which burns additional and/or unused fuel to heat theexhaust 116, 117 to output hot exhaust 110 (for example, at around 850°C.) can operate more efficiently or use less make-up fuel because theheating of the exhaust 116, 117 can be aided by the radiant heat fromthe radiant heater 119. Accordingly, the radiant heat from the radiantheater 119 can heat the cathode exhaust 116, the anode exhaust 117, themakeup combustor 111, the hot exhaust 110, the SOFC stack 106, or anycombinations thereof.

FIG. 2 shows a system 200 that has several components that are similarto the components in the system 100 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, similarcomponents shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are referred to with the samereference numerals. The system 200 includes a radiant heater 202 whichincludes an exhaust outlet 204 which directs the hot exhaust from theradiant heater 202 to the SOFC stack 106. Then, the exhaust is directedout of the hot box 101 through the normal exhaust path of the SOFCsystem. The radiant heat from the radiant heater 202 can heat thecathode exhaust 116, the anode exhaust 117, the makeup combustor 111,the hot exhaust 110, the SOFC stack 106, or any combinations thereof.Further, the hot exhaust 204 from the radiant heater 202 can be directedinside the hot box 101 to heat the cathode exhaust 116, the anodeexhaust 117, the makeup combustor 111, the hot exhaust 110, the SOFCstack 106, or any combinations thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a SOFC system 300 including acondensate chiller 302. Similar components shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 arereferred to with the same reference numerals. The SOFC system 300includes the air sealed hot box 101. Inside the hot box 101, the SOFCsystem 300 contains the reformer 102 which receives the anode air 103and the fuel 104, and provides the reformed fuel 105 (e.g., H₂ and CO)to the anode side of the SOFC stack 106. The SOFC stack 106 containedinside the hot box 101 receives the supply of the reformed fuel 105. Inthe meantime the recuperator 108 contained inside the hot box 101receives the cathode air 109 for the cathode side of the SOFC stack 106.The recuperator 108 heats the received cathode air 109 with hot exhaust110 from a makeup combustor 111 (also known as unused fuel combustor).For example, the hot exhaust 110 from the makeup combustor 111 can be850° C., and after the cathode air 109 is heated to hot cathode air 114of about 700° C., the exhaust 112 is directed out from the recuperator108 at about 200° C. The hot cathode air 114 is directed from therecuperator 108 to the cathode side of the SOFC stack 106. From the SOFCstack 106, the cathode exhaust 116 (which can be, for example, at around400° C.) is directed to the makeup combustor 111. Further, from the SOFCstack 106, the anode exhaust 304 (which can be, for example, at around400° C.) is directed to a heat exchanger 306. From the heat exchanger306, the gas 307 is directed to an exhaust cooler 308, which condensesand separates out the liquid water from the gas 307. In an embodiment,the exhaust cooler 308 includes a Peltier cooler. The Peltier cooleruses the Peltier effect to create a heat flux between two materials (theprocess is also known as thermoelectric cooling). In another embodiment,the exhaust cooler 308 includes an absorption/phase change chiller,which can use heat directed from the SOFC stack in the separation of theliquid water. In an alternative embodiment, a compressor-basedrefrigerant cooler (such as a Freon based cooler) can be used as anexhaust cooler 308. The gas exhaust 310 separated from the gas 307 atthe exhaust cooler 308 is directed to the cathode exhaust 116. Liquidwater condensate 312 separated from the gas 307 at the exhaust cooler308 is directed to a vaporizer 314. The vaporizer 314 is supplied withair 316 from the environment and can vaporize the liquid watercondensate 312 to water vapor 318, in part, in one embodiment, by usingheat reclaimed by heat exchanger 306. The water vapor 318 can then bedirected to combine with the anode air 103 and/or supplied to thereformer 102 to increase the amount of H₂O supplied to the reformer forbalancing the water supply to the SOFC stack. Water balancing canachieve efficient generation of reformed fuel 105 that is directed tothe SOFC stack 106. Accordingly, the system 100 can increase an overallefficiency of the system 300 over conventional SOFC systems.

In a further embodiment, a radiant heater 119 can be included with aSOFC system. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a SOFC system 400 which caninclude a condensate chiller 302 and the radiant heater 119. Similarcomponents in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 are referred to with the same referencenumerals. The radiant heater 119 can operate in the manner discussedabove (referring to FIG. 1). FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a SOFCsystem 500 which includes a condensate chiller 302 and a radiant heater202. The radiant heater 202 can operate in the manner discussed above(referring to FIG. 2), exhausting the radiant heater 202 through theSOFC stack 106 and associated SOFC exhaust path. Similar componentsshown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are referred to with the same referencenumerals.

As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,”and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony withthe common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art towhich the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should beunderstood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure thatthese terms are intended to allow a description of certain featuresdescribed and claimed without restricting the scope of these features tothe precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms shouldbe interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequentialmodifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimedare considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in theappended claims.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describevarious embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments arepossible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possibleembodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that suchembodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like as used herein mean thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removableor releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or thetwo members and any additional intermediate members being integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two membersor the two members and any additional intermediate members beingattached to one another.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation ofvarious elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientationof various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments,and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the presentdisclosure.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of thevarious exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a fewembodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, thoseskilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciatethat many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes,dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements,values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novelteachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Forexample, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed ofmultiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed orotherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements orpositions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any processor method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternativeembodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissionsmay also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement ofthe various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solid oxide fuel cell system, comprising: a hotbox containing a fuel cell; a reformer which provides a reformed fuel tothe fuel cell; and a condensate chiller mechanism, wherein thecondensate chiller mechanism receives anode exhaust from the fuel celland condenses liquid water from the anode exhaust.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the condensate chiller mechanism comprises a Peltiercooler for separating the liquid water from the anode exhaust.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the condensate chiller mechanism comprises aphase change cooler for separating the liquid water from the anodeexhaust.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the phase change coolercomprises an absorption chiller utilizing heat from the fuel cell or anexhaust of the fuel cell to condense liquid water from the anodeexhaust.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the condensate chillermechanism comprises a compressor driven refrigerant cooler forseparating the liquid water from the anode exhaust.
 6. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a fuel-based radiant heater, wherein thefuel-based radiant heater directs radiation to the fuel cell to heat thefuel cell.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fuel-based radiantheater is one of a diesel, gasoline, methanol, ethanol, natural gas,propane, methane, landfill gas, digester gas, reformate, or syngasfuel-based radiant heater.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein thefuel-based radiant heater is a directed fuel-based radiant heater. 9.The system of claim 6, further comprising a fuel inlet, wherein thefuel-based radiant heater has a radiant heater fuel inlet that isindependent and separate from a fuel inlet of the solid oxide fuel cellsystem.
 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the fuel-based radiant heaterhas a radiant heater exhaust outlet that is independent and separatefrom an exhaust outlet of the fuel cell of the solid oxide fuel cellsystem.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the radiant heaterexhaust outlet is directed to provide heat to the fuel cell.
 12. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the condensate chiller mechanismfurther vaporizes the liquid water to water vapor, and directs the watervapor to the reformer.
 13. A system for heating a solid oxide fuel cell,comprising: a hot box containing a fuel cell; and a fuel-based radiantheater, wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directs radiation to thefuel cell.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the fuel cell is heatedto an operating temperature to start operation of the fuel cell by thedirected radiation.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the fuel cell isheated to maintain the fuel cell near an operating temperature during ahibernation mode.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein an operatingtemperature of the fuel cell is maintained by the directed radiation.17. A method for increasing an efficiency of a solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC) system, comprising: directing an anode exhaust from a fuel cellto a condensate chiller; extracting water vapor from the anode exhaust;directing the water vapor to an air intake of a reformer; producing areformed fuel with an increased water balance based at least on thedirected water vapor; and supplying the reformed fuel with the increasedwater balance to the SOFC fuel cell.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: generating radiation from a fuel-based radiant heater,wherein the fuel-based radiant heater directs the radiation to the fuelcell to heat the fuel cell.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein heatfrom an exhaust of the fuel-based radiant heater is directed to the fuelcell.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: maintaining, bythe generated radiation, a temperature of the fuel cell near anoperating temperature of the fuel cell.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein maintaining the temperature of the fuel cell increases anefficiency of the SOFC system.
 22. The method of claim 17, wherein thefuel-cell is heated to an operating temperature.
 23. A method,comprising: generating, by a fuel-based radiant heater, radiation basedat least on supplying a fuel to the fuel-based radiant heater; anddirecting, by the fuel-based radiant heater, the radiation to a fuelcell, wherein the directed radiation heats the fuel cell.
 24. The methodof claim 23, further comprising: raising, by the directed radiation, atemperature of the fuel cell to near an operating temperature of thefuel cell.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: maintaining,by the directed radiation, a temperature of the fuel cell near apredetermined temperature.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein thepredetermined temperature is an operating temperature of the fuel cell.